- published: 19 Jan 2015
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A space observatory is any instrument (such as a telescope) in outer space that is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies and other outer space objects. The first such space observatory was the Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990. Space observatories avoid many of the problems of ground observatories, such as light pollution and the filtering and distortion of electromagnetic radiation (scintillation).
This category is distinct from other observatories located in space that are pointed toward Earth for the purpose of reconnaissance and other types of information gathering.
In 1946, American theoretical astrophysicist Lyman Spitzer was the first to conceive the idea of a telescope in outer space, a decade before the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik 1.
Spitzer's proposal called for a large telescope that would not be hindered by Earth's atmosphere. After lobbying in the 1960s and 70s for such a system to be built, Spitzer's vision ultimately materialized into the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched on April 24, 1990 by the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31).
The Herschel Space Observatory was a space observatory built and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). It was active from 2009 to 2013, and was the largest infrared telescope ever launched, carrying a single 3.5-metre (11.5 ft) mirror and instruments sensitive to the far infrared and submillimetre wavebands (55–672 µm). Herschel was the fourth cornerstone mission in the ESA science programme, along with Rosetta, Planck, and Gaia. NASA is a partner in the Herschel mission, with US participants contributing to the mission; providing mission-enabling instrument technology and sponsoring the NASA Herschel Science Center (NHSC) at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center and the Herschel Data Search at the Infrared Science Archive.
The observatory was carried into orbit in May 2009, reaching the second Lagrangian point (L2) of the Earth–Sun system, 1,500,000 kilometres (930,000 mi) from Earth, about two months later. Herschel is named after Sir William Herschel, the discoverer of the infrared spectrum and planet Uranus, and his sister and collaborator Caroline Herschel.
Herschel or Herschell may refer to:
In places:
In astronomy:
In other uses:
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum known as spacetime. The concept of space is considered to be of fundamental importance to an understanding of the physical universe. However, disagreement continues between philosophers over whether it is itself an entity, a relationship between entities, or part of a conceptual framework.
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. Historically, observatories were as simple as containing an astronomical sextant (for measuring the distance between stars) or Stonehenge (which has some alignments on astronomical phenomena).
Astronomical observatories are mainly divided into four categories: space based, airborne, ground based and underground based.
Ground-based observatories, located on the surface of Earth, are used to make observations in the radio and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Most optical telescopes are housed within a dome or similar structure, to protect the delicate instruments from the elements. Telescope domes have a slit or other opening in the roof that can be opened during observing, and closed when the telescope is not in use. In most cases, the entire upper portion of the telescope dome can be rotated to allow the instrument to observe different sections of the night sky. Radio telescopes usually do not have domes.
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The Universe Documentary - The Largest Infrared Telescope Ever Launched: Herschel Space Observatory Featured videos: Hunting the edge of Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O857soz2lwo Cosmic monsters: full documentary HD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thso8IC1QBA A quick guide to black holes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujk-DABigJA My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU7dsZCt2YKXwuPxilavPpg My Google+ Page: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/115326299759994386261/115326299759994386261/about/p/pub?hl=en-GB My Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/TheUniverseDoc My Other Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU7dsZCt2YKXwuPxilavPpg/videos The Herschel Space Observatory was a space observatory built and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). It was acti...
http://facebook.com/ScienceReason ...ESA Space Science & Technology: Herschel One Year After Launch. The European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory (formerly called Far Infrared and Sub-millimetre Telescope or FIRST) has the largest single mirror ever built for a space telescope. At 3.5-metres in diameter the mirror will collect long-wavelength radiation from some of the coldest and most distant objects in the Universe. In addition, Herschel will be the only space observatory to cover a spectral range from the far infrared to sub-millimetre. --- Please SUBSCRIBE to Science & Reason: • http://www.youtube.com/Best0fScience • http://www.youtube.com/ScienceTV • http://www.youtube.com/FFreeThinker • http://www.youtube.com/RationalHumanism --- HERSCHEL MISSION: The Herschel Space Ob...
The Herschel Space Observatory, previously known as FIRST, will be the largest ever infrared space observatory when it is launched in 2008. Equipped with a 3.5 metre diameter reflecting telescope and instruments cooled to close to absolute zero, Herschel will observe at wavelengths that have never previously been explored. After a four-month journey from Earth, Herschel will spend a nominal mission lifetime of three years in orbit around the L2 Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system located 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth in a direction diametrically opposite the Sun.
Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe The Herschel space observatory telescope has been orbiting the Sun for the last three years, taking pictures of the coldest parts of the universe. Now its coolant is running low and since refuelling is impossible, the largest, most powerful infrared telescope ever put into space will soon be retired. Al Jazeera's Tarek Bazley reports. At Al Jazeera English, we focus on people and events that affect people's lives. We bring topics to light that often go under-reported, listening to all sides of the story and giving a 'voice to the voiceless.' Reaching more than 270 million households in over 140 countries across the globe, our viewers trust Al Jazeera English to keep them informed, in...
A movie-style trailer advertising the Herschel Space Observatory. Produced by Ceri Lloyd as part of an undergraduate project at Cardiff University. For more information about the Herschel Space Observatory see: www.esa.int/herschel (ESA) www.herscheltelescope.org.uk (UK) www.herschel.fr (France) www.nasa.gov/herschel (NASA)
European astronomers are celebrating one year of discoveries by the Herchel Space Observatory. (May 13)
The European Space Agency is currently developing Herschel, the largest space telescope ever launched. It will have an unprecedented view of the 'cold' (infrared) universe, bridging the gap between what can be observed from ground and earlier space missions of this kind. ESA's Herschel telescope, named after the pioneering astronomers William and Caroline Herschel, will be launched in 2008 onboard a European Ariane 5 rocket.
The Grubb Parsons Lecture 2012 was delivered by Professor Matt Griffin.
This is a four minute video outlining the importance of the Herschel Space Observatory by some of the Canadian researchers involved in the project. Herschel will look in the infrared spectrum at far infrared and submillimeter wavelengths. The University of Waterloo uses these images for educational purposes only in this video.
A video exploring and explaining the Herschel Space Observatory. Produced by Ceri Lloyd as part of an undergraduate project at Cardiff University. For more information about the Herschel Space Observatory see: www.esa.int/herschel (ESA) www.herscheltelescope.org.uk (UK) www.herschel.fr (France) www.nasa.gov/herschel (NASA)
Starfest II - Dr Chris North talks about the Herschel space observatory
ESA's Herschel Space Observatory will study some of the coldest and most distant objects in the Universe.
Watch the lid release mechanism on the Herschel Space Observatory. Video courtesy of Herschel scientists and ESA.
A video exploring and explaining the Herschel Space Observatory. Produced by Ceri Lloyd as part of an undergraduate project at Cardiff University. For more information about the Herschel Space Observatory see: www.esa.int/herschel (ESA) www.herscheltelescope.org.uk (UK) www.herschel.fr (France) www.nasa.gov/herschel (NASA)
A movie-style trailer advertising the Herschel Space Observatory. Produced by Ceri Lloyd as part of an undergraduate project at Cardiff University. For more information about the Herschel Space Observatory see: www.esa.int/herschel (ESA) www.herscheltelescope.org.uk (UK) www.herschel.fr (France) www.nasa.gov/herschel (NASA)
The Grubb Parsons Lecture 2012 was delivered by Professor Matt Griffin.
In his Presidential Address to the Society for Popular Astronomy, Prof. Derek Ward-Thompson explains how the Herschel Space Observatory has revolutionized our knowledge of how stars form. Recorded on 27 July 2013 at the SPA meeting held at the School for Oriental and African Studies in London.
In his Presidential Address to the Society for Popular Astronomy, Prof. Derek Ward-Thompson explains how the Herschel Space Observatory has revolutionised our knowledge of how stars form. Recorded on 27 July 2013 at the SPA meeting held at the School for Oriental and African Studies in London.
Movie showing the whole Herschel Space Observatory mission time-line of almost 4 years in just 40 seconds. All observations marked are actual AORs executed, belong to actual proposals and were executed in the quoted days. Credits: Pedro Gómez (Herschel Science Centre, ESAC, Spain) Made with HILTS, The Herschel Inspector and Long Term Scheduler, http://arxiv.org/abs/1102.1210. Herschel Science Centre: http://herschel.esac.esa.int http://herschel.esac.esa.int/TheUniverseExploredByHerschel.shtml
"The Mystery of the Milky Way," chronicles the history of telescopes, from Galileo's refractor to Newton's reflector and beyond. It looks at key discoveries, such as those made by William Herschel and his sister Caroline, including the discovery of the planet Uranus. Hour 1 also looks at recent missions: the voyage of the Cassini spacecraft to Saturn, the Kepler telescope's search for planets beyond our solar system, and the Herschel Space Observatory's examination of the Milky Way, which is so large that it would take 100,000 years traveling at the speed of light to cross from one edge to the other.
"The Mystery of the Milky Way," chronicles the history of telescopes, from Galileo's refractor to Newton's reflector and beyond. It looks at key discoveries, such as those made by William Herschel and his sister Caroline, including the discovery of the planet Uranus. Hour 1 also looks at recent missions: the voyage of the Cassini spacecraft to Saturn, the Kepler telescope's search for planets beyond our solar system, and the Herschel Space Observatory's examination of the Milky Way, which is so large that it would take 100,000 years traveling at the speed of light to cross from one edge to the other.
The Mysteries of the Milky Way "The Mystery of the Milky Way," chronicles the history of telescopes, from Galileo's refractor to Newton's reflector and beyond. It looks at key discoveries, such as those made by William Herschel and his sister Caroline, including the discovery of the planet Uranus. Hour 1 also looks at recent missions: the voyage of the Cassini spacecraft to Saturn, the Kepler telescope's search for planets beyond our solar system, and the Herschel Space Observatory's examination of the Milky Way, which is so large that it would take 100,000 years traveling at the speed of light to cross from one edge to the other.
"The Mystery of the Milky Way," chronicles the history of telescopes, from Galileo's refractor to Newton's reflector and beyond. It looks at key discoveries, such as those made by William Herschel and his sister Caroline, including the discovery of the planet Uranus. Hour 1 also looks at recent missions: the voyage of the Cassini spacecraft to Saturn, the Kepler telescope's search for planets beyond our solar system, and the Herschel Space Observatory's examination of the Milky Way, which is so large that it would take 100,000 years traveling at the speed of light to cross from one edge to the other. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/hunting-edge-space.html#hunting-edge-space-1
llsedore Cleeves, Hubble postdoctoral fellow at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, gave a talk titled "Unearthing the Astrochemical Heritage of Solar System Ices" at 11 a.m. on Thursday, 11 November 2015, in the Greenewalt Lecture Hall as part of DTM's Weekly Seminar Series. Cleeves received her Ph.D. in astronomy from University of Michigan in 2015. She focuses on the theoretical modeling of these systems. Cleeves' work is guided by observational results from the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array, the Submillimeter Array as well as the Herschel Space Observatory. In addition to clues from the astronomical data, her group furthermore endeavors to connect all scales by incorporating our knowledge of the primitive solar nebula from the cometary and meteoritic record.
--- ABDH Media - Space --- Hunting the Edge of Space In this two-hour special, NOVA examines how a simple instrument, the telescope, has fundamentally changed our understanding of our place in the universe. What began as a curiosity—two spectacle lenses held a foot apart—ultimately revolutionized human thought across science, philosophy, and religion. "Hunting the Edge of Space" takes viewers on a global adventure of discovery, dramatizing the innovations in technology and the achievements in science that have marked the rich history of the telescope. The Mystery of the Milky Way "The Mystery of the Milky Way," Hour 1, chronicles the history of telescopes, from Galileo's refractor to Newton's reflector and beyond. It looks at key discoveries, such as those made by William Herschel and h...